Choral Scholarships

The church of St Peter-at-Leeds is the Minster Church to a vibrant and enterprising city, set by the river on an ancient and holy Christian site where prayer and worship have been offered to God for over twelve hundred years.

The present building was erected in 1841 and from early times was known for its outstanding music. This continues to the present day as the Minster community celebrates the English Sacred Choral Tradition as one of the key features of how we seek to structure our approach to worship within the mainstream of the ongoing Anglican tradition.

Choral Scholarships are offered to students in full time education within the city’s universities and colleges and from the surrounding area. Applications may also be considered from sixth form students who have the necessary experience and vocal ability.

Terms of the scholarship:

The basic commitment is on a Thursday evening with two services sung every Sunday during the choir term. Choral Evensong is sung at 7pm on Thursdays and is followed by a rehearsal until 9pm. The two Sunday services are at 10.30am and 5.30pm, both of which are preceded by rehearsals.

There are also extra services from time to time as would be expected in a Civic Church. These are detailed in the Choir Diary which is published at the start of each new term.

While it is expected that Choral Scholars would be available for services which might fall outside university term times, such as those at Christmas, Holy Week and Easter, there may be some flexibility in this if discussed and arranged far enough in advance with the Director of Music and the Rector.

The present choir is an adult chamber choir of auditioned singers. Applications are welcome from sopranos, altos (male or female), tenors and basses. It is hoped to host some children’s singing events at the Minster in the future with a view to reinstating treble lines at some later date and it is possible that interested scholars could have a part to play in that.

The value of each scholarship is £1500 per annum, paid in three instalments, at the end of each term. Please contact Paul Dewhurst (Director of Music) for an informal chat or for more details. paul@prdewhurst.co.uk or 01977 703296.

Applications to be received by a completed application form with details of two referees (music teachers, parish priest etc). Any appointment will be subject to successful receipt of a satisfactory DBS disclosure.